Northern League founder Bossi under investigation

Euronews

Umberto Bossi, founder and former leader of Italy’s Northern League is under investigation in a probe into the misuse of public funds.

It is alleged he used party money from the state electoral campaigns to pay for renovations to his home and to fund his children’s holidays and cars. Bossi resigned as leader of the Northern League last month.

His two sons will also come under scrutiny in the probe. One, Renzo is alleged to have paid for a university degree from Albania with party funds. The family have been nicknamed, “The magic circle.”

Francesco Belsito the former treasurer of the populist party which campaigned against corruption and the centralised power of Rome is also under investigation. “Rome the Thief” is one of its campaign slogans.

The Northern League which had been allied to Italy’s former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi suffered heavy losses in this months local elections because of the growing scandal. Umberto remains as the party’s president.